It's time for your Liverpool FC evening headlines for Sunday, September 11.
'Real problems' - Robbie Fowler lists Liverpool issues and offers 'simple' solution
Liverpool have been told they have “some real problems” by club legend Robbie Fowler.
The Reds have had an indifferent start to the season, both domestically and in Europe. In the Premier League, Liverpool have amassed just nine points from their first six fixtures. In the Champions League, Jurgen Klopp’s side were beaten 4-1 away to Napoli in their first group match of the campaign. They are next due to be in action at home to Ajax on Tuesday night.
Given Liverpool’s start to the season, Fowler has addressed some of the possible factors that may be the cause. The former Reds striker went on to outline what he thinks needs to be done to fix any issues that need addressing.
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“It looks like Liverpool have some real problems, there’s no doubt about that, and no hiding from it either,” Fowler wrote in his column for The Mirror.
“They were a few minutes away from the title, until Villa collapsed at the Etihad. They were by far the better team in the Champions League final, against a Real Madrid side who were clearly fearful of Liverpool, and astonished that they had won. Now, seven games into a new season they’re finished as a force? It doesn’t happen like that. Great teams do decline, but it’s over years, not days.
“So you have to look at other issues, and the chief amongst them is injuries. I’m not saying having four midfielders injured is an excuse, I’m saying Liverpool made an error in not planning for those injuries. They made the big mistake of thinking numbers meant quality, but that’s not always the case when you look at the profile of those making up the numbers. Jurgen Klopp said nine was enough in his midfield and it was last season.
“But was it this time when you have players in Oxlade-Chamberlain, Naby Keita and Thiago with a history of injuries, and then Jordan Henderson and James Milner who have suffered fairly regular muscle injuries over the past couple of years? That leaves them with three kids and Fabinho for his midfield, which isn’t enough. All three kids are good players, but they’re not yet elite players.
“I’d also say that applies to Darwin Nunez too, who is still young, and still developing, so it’s unfair to say he has to be an instant replacement for Sadio Mane. But that still doesn’t explain the total lack of structure against Napoli, of shape and discipline. I’ve never seen a Klopp team that was so open, that wasn’t compact in any way in the defensive transition.
“This may sound so simple that it seems I’m just talking nonsense, but the whole idea of staying as compact as possible in defence is one of the principles of play, it is one of the fundamental building blocks of football. If you don’t have it, you don’t win. What’s the opposite of compact? Whatever it is, that’s what Liverpool have been so often this season. Why? Well it seemed as though Klopp didn’t know on Wednesday."
Read the full story HERE.
Former Liverpool star Dirk Kuyt 'confronted' by supporters as police called to training ground
Former Liverpool star Dirk Kuyt was 'confronted' by supporters of ADO Den Haag and police were called to the training ground on Sunday, according to reports from the Netherlands.
The ex-Dutch international was appointed head coach of the second tier side on a one year contract earlier this summer. It's been a turbulent start to life in the dugout for the 42-year-old as his side currently sit 17th in the table. They've won just one league game so far this season, drawn one and lost four.
A report from Dutch outlet AD claims supporters are dissatisfied with the performance of the team so far this campaign and wanted to talk to the manager. Kuyt is said to have agreed to speak to them and the report says discussions proceeded 'calmly', although a police presence was in attendance at the training ground.
The club's director Edwin Reijntjes told the news outlet: "It shouldn't happen too often, but I can imagine that the supporters do this. If you play well and you lose unluckily, it's even different. But it just doesn't play well. The supporters just like to see that differently.
"Dirk knows that too. If it takes too long in football, there can be consequences. But I'm still confident it'll be okay. If we beat Jong FC Utrecht and PEC Zwolle, the world could immediately look very different.”
Read the full story HERE.
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